AirPods gifted by now ex still on his ID

Hello KeeperoftheBalls,

By resetting the AirPods you received, they will no longer be able to be tracked by their previous owner, but this will not remove them from the previous owner's Apple ID. To fully reset your AirPods, follow these steps:

How to reset your AirPods and AirPods Pro - Apple Support

This will perform a "factory reset," although Apple does not word it that way since AirPods store very little information and data.

To actually remove Activation Lock, you will need help from the previous owner, or proof of purchase documents. Follow these steps to completely remove Activation Lock from the AirPods:

How to remove Activation Lock - Apple Support

I hope this helps. Have a nice day.

My suggestion is for you to ask your ex to remove the AirPods from his Apple ID so you can configure them to your ID. If he refuses they are useless to you, and the AirPods are a double edged sword gift in the style of a Trojan Horse allowing him to stalk you. That makes them a safety risk - drop them into your local Apple Store for recycling.